45-house development proposed south of Ballantrae

A proposed development could bring 45 new homes to Dublin's south side near Ballantrae.

Dublin City Council members last week heard the first reading of a rezoning and preliminary development plan for the 26.5-acre Links at Ballantrae development.

The potential subdivision, bordered by Rings Road to the south, Washington Elementary School and Northwest Chapel Grace Brethen to the east, Ballantrae to the north and Woods of Ballantrae to the west, needs a rezoning from rural and restricted suburban residential district to planned unit development.

Planner Claudia Husak said the 45-home development would have about 7.08 acres of open space and have a density of 1.7 units per acre.

Dublin would maintain about five acres of the open space which includes a centrally located one-acre park, Husak said.

The development would have access to the north at Marmion Drive and off the future Rings-Cosgray Road connector at the southwest corner of the development.

A bikepath connection is also planned to Hilliard's Washington Elementary School, which borders the eastern section of the development.

A family that owns land to the southwest of the proposed development has expressed concerns regarding the location of the south entrance, but Husak said the developer has moved the road and offered landscaping.

"The staff and applicant have been working with us," resident David Patch said, adding he would like landscaping to buffer his residence from the future Rings-Cosgray Road connector.

The subdivision plans to offer several residences with three-car garages and Councilman John Reiner questioned the feasibility.

Ben Hale, the attorney representing developer M.I. Homes, said the lots in the proposed development have enough room for three-car garages and the market is expected to support them.

"I guarantee at least half will have that," he said. "The market will demand it."

The residences in the proposed development will have brick, stone, stucco and wood siding in natural earthtones and warm neutral colors, the staff report to council said. The plan also requires half of the homes to have side-loading garages.

Council is expected to vote on the development at an April 22 meeting.